Bloggers help the San Antonio Zoo get ready for Zoo Boo

Disclosure: my kids and I received complimentary admission to the San Antonio Zoo, snacks, and free tickets to the Zoo Boo. But we love the Zoo and we buy a family membership each year so, rest assured, all of the fascinating opinions in this post are completely mine.

On the most fall-like morning we’ve experienced so far this year, San Antonio bloggers gathered at the San Antonio Zoo to paint pumpkins for our animal friends. The San Antonio Zoo’s Pumpkin Smash, scheduled for this Friday, October 25, is the kickoff event for their annual Zoo Boo, a trick-or-treating event on October 30 and 31. During the Pumpkin Smash this coming Friday, zookeepers will place the pumpkins we decorated in the animals’ enclosures. Some eat them, others play with (and smash!) them, and some prefer to have them carved out and filled with their favorite treats.

The Pumpkin Smash is included with your Zoo admission. Be sure to get to the tiger cub exhibit before 10:00 a.m. on the 25th to see what the adorable baby tigers think of pumpkins when they see them for the first time. My kids and I had a chance to see the tiger cubs outdoors today. Their prancing, exploring, and adorable play-fighting made them a bit too quick for my iPhone camera to catch, though. But believe me, you need this dose of cuteness overload in your life. If you miss the 10:00 a.m. tiger cub pumpkin smash, visit them before noon when they head back inside for the day.

After we finished painting pumpkins, we had the opportunity to meet Thistle, an East African Hedgehog. She was a little shy at first (and probably cold too) but she began to warm up and the kids were each able to pet her, gently, with one finger.

Speaking of cuteness overload, have you ever seen a hedgehog’s tiny tongue? I think this means Thistle liked us. Oh, and she has a boyfriend named Spike. We didn’t get to meet him but, with a name like Spike, it would appear that Thistle has a thing for bad boys. Join the club, girl. Join. The. Club.

The Zoo Boo, an alternative to neighborhood trick-or-treating, is October 30 and 31. Kids are encouraged to wear non-scary costumes (so put away the Ted Cruz masks, y’all) and use their own recyclable buckets or pillowcases to collect candy.

For more information about Zoo Boo tickets, visit the San Antonio Zoo’s website which has more details, including helpful tips on parking. My insider sources tell me that the Halloween evening Zoo Boo is less crowded, so keep that in mind when deciding which night to attend.